Donald Wayne "Don" Bennett

Donald Wayne “Don” Bennett, 86, of Bossier City, Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

 Don was born on September 8, 1939, in Greenwood, Mississippi, to William E. Bennett and Clara Shaffer Bennett. He spent his early years in Greenwood before his family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1953. Don attended Fair Park High School in Shreveport, graduating in 1957, and later attended Centenary College of Louisiana. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, carrying with him throughout his life a deep love for God, country, family, and the values he believed in.

Don lived a life marked by service, discipline, hard work, and devotion to those he loved. After serving in the Marine Corps, he joined the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Department as a deputy in July 1964, serving in the Identification Bureau. Through his dedication and professionalism, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the Identification Division. He was a member of the International Association for Identification, the Louisiana Peace Officers Association, and the Louisiana Sheriffs Association. Don also worked in automobile sales and later returned to law enforcement as an investigator with the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, where he worked in hot checks and forgery. In every role, he brought a strong sense of duty, fairness, and commitment.

 He was a good man in the truest sense of the word. Don was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a proud grandfather. He loved his boys deeply and raised them with firmness, guidance, and an unwavering desire to teach them right from wrong. He believed in character, responsibility, and doing things the right way. Those lessons will continue to live on in the family he loved so well.

 Don is survived by his beloved wife, Anne Cascio Bennett; his sons, Brian Paul Bennett and his wife, Leigh Ann, and Keith Wayne Bennett and his wife, Jessica; and his grandchildren, Jack Edward Bennett and Samuel Lee Bennett, children of Brian and Leigh Ann, and Andrew Thompson Bennett and Emily Claire Bennett, children of Keith and Jessica. He is also survived by extended family and friends who loved him and will miss him dearly. Don was preceded in death by his parents, William and Clara Bennett, as well as beloved siblings and family members who went before him.

 Don enjoyed golf, good food — especially Italian food — and the simple pleasure of time spent with family and friends. He was also an avid bowler in the Shreveport bowling community beginning in 1959 and was named the 1971–72 Northwest Men’s Association City Match Game Champion. Those who knew him will remember his strength, his humor, his convictions, and the way he could make a phrase entirely his own. More than once, when life called for it, you might hear him say, “Well, Holy Mackerel!” 

Above all, Don Bennett will be remembered as a man who loved his family, served his community, honored his country, and lived with purpose. His presence, his voice, his guidance, and his love will be deeply missed.

 A visitation will be held on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City, Louisiana.